This rainbow scarf was one of my favourite accessories as a teenager. I loved brightly coloured things. The brighter the better. I wore it everywhere. I had no idea that these rainbow colours were the official LGBTTQ symbol. None. It was never mentioned. There was so little LGBT presence when I was growing Up and it wasn’t until midway through university that I realized the symbolism of the rainbow to the LGBT community. --     It is this very lack of information, lack of dialogue and lack of diversity that undoubtedly made my first relationship with a woman happen later in my life. The lack of exposure and understanding about an LGBT lifestyle led to influence my decision to marry the first woman, my now ex-wife, who showed a desire to marry me. After being told by my mother that if I chose to be with a woman, my life will be VERY hard, I was relieved to feel ease and safety with my ex-wife. My ex assured me we could still have a family which meant I could fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a mother. --      There I was, a mother of 3 beautiful little boys. living in a city, a world, a country that was now FULL of rainbows. Rainbows were everywhere and my eyes felt like they had just opened for the first time. I felt like I had a difficult choice to make. But that it was MY choice, and I was strong and secure enough to make it. I followed the rainbow to the love of my life. --   Over 3 years have past since I was disowned and betrayed by my mother for leaving my marriage, and I am living my beautiful life with my family. I had no idea that the only real pain and hardship that my mother had warned me about for my life choices was going to come from her. --   As my fiancé and I stroll through the neighbourhood hand in hand, and my 5 year old confidently explains to his kindergarten teacher that he has 3 mothers, I am happy to say that life is pretty awesome under our rainbow.